Bob Fortus' Fair Grounds selections for Tuesday, Feb. 16

FIRST RACECHOICES: 1. Numinous. 2. Candy Run. 3. Pedestal.FORTUS FORECAST: Numinous, who routed bottom-level maidens and was claimed in his second start, is bred for two turns and takes a reasonable step up in class. Candy Run routed $12,500 maidens at this distance in his first Fair Grounds race. Pedestal finished third in a two-turn race against similar horses in his last start.

4TH RACECHOICES: 1. Ashlee’s Mom. 2. Twice Twelve. 3. Kim’s Pretty Karen.FORTUS FORECAST: Ashlee’s Mom, who made a late run and finished fourth against similar runners on turf in her return from a layoff, will be more fit and might improve with blinkers. Twice Twelve rallied to edge the top pick for third in that race. Kim’s Pretty Karen would be a serious contender if the surface is switched to dirt and she draws into the field.

5TH RACECHOICES: 1. Gittin Cozy. 2. Stacey Lee. 3. Marked for Amnesty.FORTUS FORECAST: Gittin Cozy, who was edged at this level on a sloppy track 18 days ago, is as good a pick as any in a hard-to-decipher competition. Stacey Lee routed $10,000 Louisiana-bred maidens when adding blinkers in her last race. Marked for Amnesty finished in the money against similar runners in her last six races.

6TH RACECHOICES: 1. Midway Holiday. 2. Baby Sister. 3. Kinsolving.FORTUS FORECAST: Midway Holiday, who was impressive in winning two-turn turf races on this course in both of her starts, should get a favorable pace scenario to set up her rally in this stakes sprint on turf. Baby Sister has worked well since rallying past maidens at this distance in late December. Kinsolving would benefit if the surface is switched to dirt.

7TH RACECHOICES: 1. Our Dancer. 2. Group. 3. Q Mac’s Phone.FORTUS FORECAST: Our Dancer continues to drop in class after finishing a clear second against $7,500 claimers. Group, who won at this level early in the meet, might have benefited from a break. Q Mac’s Phone didn’t handle a sloppy track in his last start.

9TH RACECHOICES: 1. Just Cush. 2. Definity. 3. Nob Hill Bandit.FORTUS FORECAST: Just Cush, who hasn’t raced since finishing fourth against $30,000 Louisiana-bred maidens his debut 11 months ago, has been working steadily and faces bottom-level maidens. Definity finished second against similar horses in his last two races. Nob Hill Bandit finished third at this level in his third start after a layoff.